Pep Guardiola "tuned" Nico O'Reilly into a "supercar" with a brace that helped Man City beat Newcastle 2-1, keeping them close to Arsenal in the Premier League race.
The new hero
In the nail-biting race with Arsenal, what set Man City apart was not only their champion mentality, but also Pep Guardiola's ability to fine-tune the team.
Nico O'Reilly is the latest example, a "supercar" reassembled mid-season to accelerate in the final sprint of the Premier League .
Originally a left-back, O'Reilly was moved to the center by Pep, learning to play as a midfielder.
In the 2-1 win against Newcastle, he was pushed even further forward, playing on the left wing in an experimental 4-1-3-2 formation, with the option to cut inside when space arose.
Structurally, it's a system with a defensive midfielder (Rodri) behind the back, three mobile midfielders up front, and two strikers anchoring the opponent's defense.
In that structure, O'Reilly became the most versatile piece, sometimes wide, sometimes narrow; sometimes hugging the wing, sometimes penetrating into the central midfield area in front of the opponent's penalty box.
The opening goal was a prime example. Receiving a pass from Omar Marmoush on the edge of the penalty area, O'Reilly didn't rush. He controlled the tempo, observed the situation, and then unleashed a low, powerful shot.
That wasn't the move of a full-back, but rather the instinct of an attacking midfielder who understands space and timing.
The second goal showcased another quality: off-ball movement. When Erling Haaland moved to the right to receive the ball and cross it into the box, O'Reilly quietly occupied the space between the opposing center-back and midfielder and comfortably headed the ball into the net from close range.
The understanding between him and the two strikers – Marmoush and Haaland – clearly shows that O'Reilly knows when to drift out to open up space, when to cut inside as a second "number 8", and when to penetrate the penalty area as a "false number 9".
Guardiola's "supercar"
Three goals in the last two Premier League games (previously a goal in the 3-0 win against Fulham) is a significant leap forward.
Before this explosive run of form, to find O'Reilly's Premier League goals, you'd have to go back to November 2nd, to see the goal that sealed the 3-1 victory against Bournemouth.
Sandwiched between were one goal in the Champions League and one in the FA Cup – scattered signs of potential, but not enough to define his role. Now, he has made his mark at the right time.
More importantly, those goals brought Man City just two points ahead of Arsenal. At a stage where psychological pressure can derail an entire season, having an additional source of firepower from midfield is strategically significant.
Opponents can't just try to neutralize Haaland or shut down his familiar midfield; they have to account for unexpected runs from O'Reilly.
Pep Guardiola is not only skilled at rotating his squad, but he also redesigns his players.
A specialist in "modifying" the machine, like Matheus Nunes who now plays right-back, or many other cases from Barcelona to Bayern Munich, and now Manchester City.
O'Reilly, originally a left-back, has been upgraded into a versatile machine: strong pressing, quick transitions, and decisive finishing. In this long-distance race, Guardiola has just opened up another avenue of acceleration.
Once this "supercar" gets going, Arsenal understand that the roar of the engine behind them is closer than ever, threatening their chances of ending a two-decade Premier League title drought.